Beadle's Dime Handbooks (no. 7) (1866)
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ih | LP AUNRCURHEEA TU | : | ) AND P FOOT-BELL. | NEW YORE: | BEADLE AND COMPANY, 118 WILLIAM ST. | PPPS AAT? Se
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= Popular Dime Hand-Books. BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK, Hach volume 100 12mo0 pages, sent post-paid on receipt of price—ten cents each. GAME AND PASTIME SERIES. DIME BASE-BALL PLAYER FOR 1881—Containing the revised Code of Playing Rules pees to the professional, amateur and college clubs of the country for 1581, together with a Review of the Season’s Work in the professional, college and amateur arenas, with the Batting and Pitching Av- erages and the College Club Statistics; also the League Club Records for 1880. CRICKET AND FOOT-BALL—A desirable Companion, containing complete instructions in the elements of epee Batting and Fielding; alas the R:- vised Laws of the Game; Remarks on the Duties of Umpires; the Mary-le-Bone Cricket Club Rules and Regulations; Bets, etc. DIME BOOK OF CROQUET—A complete guide to the game, with the latect rules, diagvams, Croquet Dictionary, Parlor Croquet, etc. DIME GUIDE TO 8WIMMING—Enibracing all the rules of the art for both sexes. * YACHTING AND ROWING—This volume will be found very complete as a guide tothe conduet of watercraft, and full of interesting information alike to the amateur and the novice. RIDING AND DRIVING—A sure guide to correct Horsemanship, with com- ylete directions for the road and field; and a specific section of directions and information for female equestrians. BOOK OF 100 GAM&S—Out-door and In-door SUMMER GAMES, for Tourists and Families in the Country, Picnics, ete., comprising 100 Games, Forfeits, etc DIME CHESS INSTRUCTOR—A complete hand-book of instruction, giving the entertaining mysteries of this most interesting and fascinating of games. HAND-BOOK OF PEDESTRIANISM—Giving the Rules for Training and:Prac- tice in Walking, Running, Leaping, Vaulting, ete. HANDBOOK OF SUMMER SPOR?S—Comprising Walking, Running, Jump- ing, Have and Hounds, Bieyeling, Archery, ete. With Complete American and Buglish Athletig Rules. ; HANDBOLK OF WINTER SPORTS. Embracing Skating, (on the ice and on rollers,) Rink-Ball, Curling, Ice-Boating and Football. YOUNG. PEOPLE’S SERIES. 1—DIM® GENTS’ L® TTER-WRITER—Embracing Forms, Models, Suggestions and Rules for the use of all classes, on all occasions. 2—DIME BOOK OF Et 1QUETTE—for Ladies and Gentlemen: being a Guide to True Gentility and Good-Breeding, and a Directory to the Usages of society. 3—DIM& BOOK OF V«.RSES—Comprising Verses for Valentines, Mottoes, Coup- lets, St. Valentine Verses, Bridal and Marriage Verses, Verses of Love, ete. 4—DIME BOOK OF DREAMS—Their Romance and Mystery; with a complete interpreting Dictionary. Compiled from the most accredited sources. 5—DIMS FOR SUNE-TELLER—Comprising the art of Fortune-Telling, how to read Character, ete. ve - 6—DI iE LADIKS’ LETTE?-WRITER—Giving the various forms of Letters of School Days, Love and Friendship, of Society, ete. %7—DIME LOVERS’ CASKET—A Treatise and Guide to Friendship, Love, Court- ship and Marriage. Embracing also a complete Floral Dictionary, ete. 8—DIME BALL-ROOM COMPANION—And Guide to Dancing. Giving rules of Etiquette, hints on Private Parties, toilettes for the Ball-room, ete, 12— IME BOOK OF BEAU t Y—A delightful book, full of interesting informa- tion, It deserves a place in the hands of every one who would be beautiful. ‘FAMILY SERIES. 1, DIME COOK BOOK, 4, DIME FAMILY PHYSICIAN, 2, DIME RECIPE BOOK. 5. DIME DRESSMAKING AND MIL- 8. DIME HOUSEWIFH’S MANUAL. LINERY., * (2 The above books are sold by Newsdealers everywhere, or will be sent, v-paid, to any address, on receipt of price, 10 cents each, BEADLE & ADAI:S, ublishers, 98 William street, New York,
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CRICKET AND FOOTBALL, COMPLETE GUIDE TO PLAYERS, AND OONTAINING ALL THE RULES AND LAWS oF THE ~ GROUND -AND GAMES. EDITED BY HENLY CHADWICK, New YORK: BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, $8 WILLIAM STREET.
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owl ire ’ ie BE Six ‘a 0 Tet}. Unlimited in length. DIAGRAM OF THE WICKET Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 1966, Br BEADLE AND COMPANY, In the ork’s Office of the District Court of the United States for tha Sonthern Bistriet of New Tork.
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DIAGRAM OF A CRICKET FIELD, Showing the general position of every player on the field during a game. The lines indicate hits from the bat, with their technical terma
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— SINKS OF THE BALLS BY DIFFERENT STXYLER OF BOWLING a ee na, Slow, Bail balls. Fast, Bail balls. Medium pace, Bail balls. Ee Slow, shooting balls. Fast, Shooting balls. A full pitohed ball. A short nitched ball A dropping ball: A lobbing ball.
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BEADLE’S DIME 800K OF CRICKET. a et © -- The Character of Cricket. Tur game of cricket, philosophically considered, is a standing panegyric on the English character; none but an orderly and sensible race of people would so amuse themselves. It calls into play most of the cardinal virtues. As with the Grecian games of old, the player must be sober and temperate. Patience, fortitude, self-denial, order, obedience,- and good humor, with an unruffled temper, are indispensable. Of what avail is the head to plan, and the hand to execute, if a sulky temper paralyzes exertion, and throws a damp on the field; or if impatience dethrone judgment, or a contentious and imperious disposition make its possessor the pest of every cleven? Conceit in a cricketer, as in other things, is a bar to all im- provement—the vain-glorious is always thinking of the lookers-on, instead of the game. In one word, there is no game in which amiability and an unrnffled temper are so essential to success, as in cricket. Such a game will both harmonize and humanize a people, It teaches a love of order, discipline, and fair play, for the pure honor and glory of victory. Games of some kind, men must haye; and it is no small praise of cricket that it occupies the place of less innocent sports. “Nature abhors a vacuum,” especially of
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$ BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICRET. mirth and merriment, resenting the folly of those that would disdain her bounties, by that indifference and apathy that characterize those who neglect her teach- ings. She designed us to sport cnd play at cricket, as truly as to eat and drink. Without sport you have no healthful exercise; to refresh the body yoa must relax the mind. Observe the pale, dyspeptic student, ruminating on his logic, algebra, or political economy, while describing his periodical revolutions round his college-garden; then turn aside and glad- den your eyes and ears with the buoyant-spirits and exultant energies that characterize the frequenter of the cricket-field. Society has its rank and classes; these distinctions, we believe, are not artificial, but natural, even as the very courses and strata of the: earth itself. Limes there are, nicely graduated, or- dained to separate, what Burns calls, the tropics of affluence, from the temperate zones of a comfortable independence, and the arctic circles of poverty; but these lines are nowhere less marked, because nowhere less wanted, than on the cricket-field. \ There we can waive for awhile, the precedence of wealth and position, “Contented with the rank that merit gives.” And many an humble spirit, from this temporary pre- ferment, learning the pleasure of superiority, and well- earned applause, carries the same honest emulation into his daily routine of duties. Cricket forms no debasing habits; unlike the earlier sports of the English, it is suited to the softer feelings of a refined age. Cricket hes within the reach of average powers. <A good head will compensate for hands and heels. It is no monopoly for a gifted few, nor are cricketers soon superannuated. It affords scope for a great diversity of talent: bowling, fielding,
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BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET, a wicket-keeping, free-hitting, safe and judicious play, and goodg eneralship, are all points of the game, in one of which many a man has earned a good name, though inferior in the rest. There are good batsmen, and capital fielders, among near-sighted men; and hard-hitters among weak and crippled ones; and as to age, there are many men, very useful in elevens, between fifty and seventy years old. Cricket is not solely a game of skill,—chance has sway enough to Jeave the vanquished an 7f and a but. A long in- nings bespeaks good play, but “out the first ball” is no disgrace. A game, to be really a game, really playful, should admit of chance as well as skill. It is the bane of chess—if bane it has—that it is all skill. To lose a game at chess, is to be outwitted in a fair and undeniable contest of long-headedness, tact, maneuvering, and common-sense—qualities in which no man likes to come off second-best. As to stirring excitement, what can surpass a well-contested cricket- match, when you have been fighting an up-hill game, and gradually, the figures on the telegraph keep tell- ing a better and a better tale, ’till, at last, the scorers stand up and proclaim a tie, and you win the game by a single wicket, or one cr two runs? As Miss Mitford says. “who would think that a little bit of leather, and two or three pieces of wood had such a- delightful and delighting power ?” The Game of Cricket. Cricket is essentially an English game, and is un- questionably the most scientific, if not the most at- tractive, game of ball in existence. No one who aspires to be a thorough cricketer, must have any fear of his person while on the field, or be timid in catching or stopping a ball at its fuli speed. A crick.
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10 BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. étef should be active in mind to prepare for every advantage, and active in eye and limb to avail him- self of these advantages. <A quick eye, a clear head, a firm hand, and a ready and cool courage, together with a good temper, are the chief requisites for a first- class cricketer. As this work is mtended solely for those who have but a very limited knowledge of the game, we shall not occupy any space with comments on the history and progress of the game, but proceed at once to in- struct our readers in the elements of cricket. The Game. The full game of cricket is played by twenty-two persons, eleven on each side, of whom there are thir- teen at one time on the field, namely ; eleven of one side occupying the various positions in the field, and two of the other side at the wickets as batsmen. The wickets consist of two. sets of stumps, of a certain size and length, three of which are placed in the. ground at a point fixed upon, and the other three at another point, distant twenty-two yards. The object of the bowler is to knock down these wickets with the ball, that of the batsman being to prevent him, and at the same time hit the ball sufficiently out of the reach of the ficldsman, as to enable him to run to the opposite wicket before it is knocked down With the ball, in which case for every time he succeeds in running from wicket to wicket, he scores'a run for his side. The game consists of two innings on each side. each party sending in their eleven to the bat twire, each eleven alternately taking their positions in the field and at the bat, the side scoring the most runs ot the close of the second innings winning’ the match. The particulars of the game are as follows:
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BRADLE'’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. The Wickets. The wickets consist of six stumps and four bails, the stumps to be of equal Iength, and long enough to amit of their standing 27 inches out of the ground ; the bails to be four inches in length, and made so as to lay firmly in the grooves atthe top of the stumps, in order that they may not be blown off by the wind. These stumps can be easily turned, hickory being the best wood to make them of. It is best to have them brass mounted on top, with about quarter-inch grooves. Three stumps and two bails are used for each wicket, and these are to be placed in the ground according to the measurements laid down in the rules, and also in the diagram of the wicket. The wickets are pitched exactly twenty-two yards apart, and oppo- site each other, the line from the middle stumps in- tersecting the lines of the bowling creases at right angles. In order to lay out the batsman’s ground correctly, a frame should be made, in the form of an oblong square, siz feet eight inches in length, and four feet wide. This should be laid down in front of the three stumps, the ends of the frame extending three feet on each side of the outer stumps of the wicket, the three stumps to occupy eight inches in the center of the line, of six feet eight inches, required for the length of the bowling crease., The line of the frame, touching the stumps, will then indicate the bowling crease, and the outer line of it the popping crease, which lines should be marked cither with whitewash, or by cuttmg out a line in the turf about halfan-inch in width, the latter not being easily erased, Thé ground between the wickets should be as level as possible, especially within about fifteen feet in front of each wicket, and should be well rolled previous: to being played upon. If the extent of the ground will
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\3 BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET admit of it, the wickets should be placed in new posi- tions each time a match is played. It is also desir- able that the ground, for at least fifteen yards behind each wicket, be made tolerably level, or other- wise the long stop will have difficulty in stopping balls from the hands of a swift bowler. Where it is requisite to lay out a new ground for the wickets, the size of the square selected should not be less than fifty yards in length by twenty yards in width; and the turf should be laid down with care, especially in reference to connecting the edges of each square of sod, _ otherwise the ball will be apt to riso dangerously if it should strike on these edges. No cricket ground should be without a roller of some kind or other, in order to keep the turf smooth and level. Bats and Balls. As it will be necessary to procure these materials from the regular manufacturers, or their agents, it will be needless to allude to their dimensions, or the ~ materials used in their construction, beyond a brief reference to tbe difference in the weight of bats, which vary from one pound fourteen ounces, to two pounds ten ounces, and even heavier than that. In choosing a bat, select one with a hard surface and clear grain. It is not advisable to use a heavy bat, and such a one is especially objectionable against fast round-arm bowling, in which case the hand should move as quick as the eye, and therefore a heavy bat will cause the ball to be played at too late. In fast howling, . where quick hitting is so necessary, bats of from two pounds, to two pounds three ounces, will be found the best weight. The older and more seasoned a willow bat is, the lighter and tougher the fiber be- eomes. Some cricketers take their new bats, and
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BEADLES DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. 18 with a hammer, such as shoemakers use, beat the face of the bat down for the purpose of hardening it. This, however, requires to be done with care, by moderate and oft-repeated blows, so as to beat the surface down evenly without cracking the. fiber. After this has been done, they rub in a little oil, for the purpose of keeping out the damp, which soon rots the wood when once it gets in. If the balls were also rubbed with some nourishing oil for leather they would keep better, and be less liable to give way at the seams, especially is this beneficial after a ball has been used in a wet field, in which case it should be gradually dried, and then oiled. It would be as well to have two bats, one for practice, and one for match days only. Mark the latter with your initials, and the word “ Private,” and then no gentle- man will use it without your permission. Both bats should be of the same weight. Your best bat should be kept in a casing, and in a dry place. Dress, &c. The dress of a cricketer should consist entirely of flannel, white for the pantaloons and jacket, and colored checks for the shirts, though white is the neatest for all three. The cap should be of light and porous material, and in form like those in use among the officers of the British Army, as that is a very good form for a cricket-cap. The front of the cap should afford ample protection and shade to the eyes, and should be white above and green below. In hot weather the placing of a cabbage-leaf, dipped in cold water, inside the cap, will materially lessen the effect of the sun's rays on’the head. Shoes can be made either of soft canvas, or of buckskin leather, the latter being preferable; most cricketers have three or
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14 BIADLE's DIME Book or CRICKET. four spikes in cach shoe, but we have found that thick brads, driven into the soles so as to project about a quarter-ofan-inch from them, have equally as. effec- tual a hold on tle ground, and are less dangerous itt case of a collision while fielding, as the brads in such @ case will not do more .than graze the skin, while spikes are liable to inflict severe injuries. The brads should be placed around the edges of the sole and heel, about half-an-inch apart, and the same distance from the edges of the sole. A strap should be placed across the fore part of the shoe, just below the instep, in order to prevent the shoe from: giving way, as this is the part that has the greatest strain on it, and the toes of the shoes should have a leather covering also, to preserve them from wear. Let the soles of the shoes be thick by all means, “Thin soles + hard ground — tender feet, Thin soles ++ wet ground — severe cold.” _ If possibble, be provided with leg-guards and gloves, especially against swift bowling. It is very absurd for a batsman to continue to receive punishment from the ball, out of mere bravado, when he could easily avoid it by the protection afforded by pads and. gloves; besides he would certainly judge a ball better when free to hit at it without having to be on the look-out to avoid a blow from it. A cricket . belt should be wide and elastic, for, at the same time that it keeps the dress in place, it should be free to yield to the motions of the body. Positions on the Wield. The general positions of the several players engaged n a game of cricket, will be readily ascertained by & glance at the diagram of the field in the first part of ‘ the book ; but as each position requires a special code
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BEADLE'S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. 18 of instructions on the duties appertaining to each, we shall proceed to give them separately, according to their relative importance, beginning with the bowler, as he is the first person to commit an overt action on the occasion of a match. The Bowler. This position is one of the most important on the field, as on the individual exertions and skill of the Bowler depends, mainly, the successful result of a contest. The player, therefore, who intends occupy- ing the position, should direct his principal efforts to perfecting himself in bowling, making batting and fielding secondary, though, nevertheless, important considerations, The chief object of the Bowler is to bow] down the batsman’s wicket; but if he finds that he is met by an obstinate defence of the same, he should resort to efforts that will cause his opponent to hit balls that can be readily caught by one or other of the several fieldsmen, or so tempt him out of his ground, to hit at balls favorably bowled for good hits, as fo enable the wicket-keeper to put him out by stumping him. To be able to attain these several ends effectually, requires ability of no mean order, but until the Bowler can achieve these separate results, he can not be classed as a first-rate player in the position. The necessary instructions for becoming practically acquainted with the most effective method of bowling, will be found under the head of “ Bowl- ing,” in another portion of the work. ‘The Batsman. This player is the next to be noticed, as he is the first that has to deal with the ball after it leaves the hands of the bowler. As our remarks under the
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BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. head of “ Batting” will include most of the prelffhin. ary instructions necessary for the Batsman, we shall only briefly allude here to the primary rules to be ob- served when he takes his position at the wicket, He must, first of all, bear in mind that he has to de- fend his wicket from the assaults of the bowler in front; and secondly, by keeping well within his ground, render the wicket-keeper’s attacks in the rear entirely ineffective. He must distinctly remem- ber that he is out, if either of the bails be bowled off his wicket; or, if he be out of his ground in front of the wicket, when the latter is knocked down by the ball either from or in the hands of any of the eleven fieldsmen opposed to him; or, if a straight ball from the hands of the bowler be prevented from taking the wicket by any part of his person—his only legitimate means of defending his wicket being his bat; or, if the ball, from a stroke of the bat, be caught by any of the fieldsmen before it touches the ground; or, if he knock down his wicket with his bat or any part of his person while in the act of striking at the ball ; or, if he touch or take up the ball while it is in play; or if, under any pretence, he prevent a ball from be- ing caught; or, if the ball be struck a second time unless for the express purpose of defending his wicket. He should also remember that if the Batsmen cross each other in running, he that runs for the wick- et that is put down is out; and also that when he is run out, the run he was attempting is not to be put on the score. He should endeavor, also, when at the bowler’s end, to advance toward the opposite wicket na far as he safely can do so, but should be careful not to go out of his ground before the ball leaves the bowler’s hands. After the ball has been struck, and ® still rolls toward the wicket, the Batsman can
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BEADLE'’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. y? either prevent its doing so with his bat or his fect, but not his hands. We will conclude this paragraph by simply advising a Batsman that whenever the um- pire, correctly or incorrectly, decides him out, he should Jeave his ground promptly and silently the moment he hears the decision. No gentleman will ever act, in this respect, in any other way. For further infor- mation, see article on batting. The Wicket-Heeper. Behind the wicket is the place for the Captain of an eleven, for the Wicket-Keeper is in a position to observe the movements of all the players on the field, and almost at one view. His duties are to direct the movements of the various fieldsmen; to stop the ball, from the hands of the bowler, after passing the bats- man; to stump out the latter, if he steps out of his ground to strike at a ball; and to hold himself in readi- ness to knock down the wicket with the ball, wher it is thrown in to him from the field. To discharge these several duties effectively, requires the possession of considerable judgment, activity, and fearlessness, In taking his station behind the wicket, he should stand somewhat in the position of one about to spar, in order to be in readiness to move promptly in any direction required. He should keep his hands slightly open, the left hand a little higher than the right, and stand near to the wicket, that he may be ready for stumping. In preparing to receive the ball from the hands of a fieldsman, he should always keep the wicket between himself and the ball, taking the latter in front of the wicket, except from the hands of the bowler in bowling, and lifting the bails with oneand the same movement. He should strictly abide by. the 85th law of the game, He should be as familiar os
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18 BEADLE'S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. possible with every point of play peculiar to each individual member of the eleven over whom he has control; and before going on the field with the éleven, should accord to each his respective posi- tion, and initiate him in the code of signals, by means of which he directs the movements of the fieldsmen unknown to the striker. He should appeal to the umpire as seldom as possible, and should avoid un- necessary appeals in stumping. The Wicket-Keep- er’s position against fast bowling is really a service of danger, especially to an inexperienced hand. Gloves, and pads for the abdomen and legs, are very requis- ite against fast bowling, and without them few men could go through match uninjured. Long Stop. The position of the Long Stop is secondary only to that of the bowler and the wicket-keeper, and re- quires the player, who occupies it, to be alike active in eye and limb, and fearless of punishment in stop- ping the ball. His duties are to stop all balls that pass the wicket-keeper, and be equally on the alert in fielding balls just touched with the bat, sufficiently, to make them diverge from the reach of the wicket- keeper, and those that both the batsman and wicket- keeper allow to pass them, as also wide-balls and leg- byes. He should return the ball promptly, ming for the top of the wicket. An important part of his duty also, is to “ back up” at the wicket-keeper’s end, when the ball is returned from the field. Point. This position requires the best fielder in the eleven te occupy it, one who is sharp-sighted and active, aud
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BEADLE'S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. 19 one possessing coolness and judgment, for the latter qualities will be frequently called into requisition in deciding on the changes of position consequent upon the variety in the style of play adopted by the several batsmen he will have to face. He should stand about six yards from the striker, and facing him, and near the line of the popping crease. He should be in rea- diness to occupy the wicket-keeper’s position while the latter is temporarily absent from his post after the ball, and should also be prompt in backing up all round the wickets. Cover Point. This player’s duties are to stop all balls that pass point ; and catch those that go over the latter's head. He should stand about eight or ten yards back of point, and in a line with that of the bowling Crease. Short Slip. This fielder should be a very active player, and also a fearless one, for both Short Slip and point fre- quently have to stop. some pretty swift balls from the bat. His position is about three yards from the off- stump, but is frequently changed by going in close to the wicket. Constant vigilance is required at this post, as well as at that of point. Short slip must al- ways be in readiness also to take the place of the wicket-keeper when the latter goes after the ball. Long Slip. This position is between short slip and point, but more in the rear of short slip, and about twelve yards from the off stump. As his duties are, like those of cover point, to stop passed balls, and catch those that go over the head of short slip, it requires him to be pretty active and attentive in his ficlding.
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‘ BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKER Mid-Wicket. This position is on the off-side, about twelve yards from the bowler’s wicket, and about twenty-four from the striker’s. Should the bowler quit his place to field a ball, Mid-Wicket is the one to take his place. He should be active in fielding, especially in being prepared for a ball defore it is struck. There is no position where more exertion is required to save a ’ Tun than this, and it is one admirably fitted for an energetic and enterprising youth. Long Field. Long Field “off” and “on,” are positions that equally require the services of fast runners and good throwers. The first acts as a cover to the bowler and mid-wicket, and the latter takes charge of a pretty wide range of field on the right of the bowler. Leg. This position is an important one, as he has sole charge of many balls that do not pass within reach of any other fieldsmen. He should be always on the alert to get the start of the ball, and he will generally have time to judge, somewhat, as to the nature of the hit before the ball is struck. He should be in readi- ness to support the long stop in case of need, but should not keep too near him, but keep far enough out to be ready to save runs from hits to square leg. Short Leg. This player stands near the Umpire, about eight or ten yards from the leg stump, and on a line with the bowling crease. His duties are to save runs from draws, and light hits to leg, returning the ball gen-
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’ BEADLE'S DIME BOOK OF GRICKET, 21 erally to the wicket-keeper’s end, but also, at times, to the bowler’s. General Remarks. The various positions, above described, are subject to several changes, according to the character of the bowling, and the peculiarities in the style of play adopted by the batsman. Thus, for instance, fast bowling requires more fieldsmen around the striker’s wicket, and fewer in the outer field, than slow bowl- ing; and a batsman that is well known for his fine off-hitting, needs more fieldsmen in front of him, than the batsman does who is celebrated for his effective leg-hitting ; and as a special description of the several positions resulting from these changes would exceed the limits we have prescribed for this work, which is calculated solely for the advantage of the beginner, and not for one familiar with the game, we shall con- fine our remarks entirely to instructions on the ele- ments of the game, and therefore we proceed to con- elude our article on the positions on the field by a separate one on the general rules of fielding, which are applicable alike to all the players. On Fielding, Fielding is quite a science, and must be learned m all its parts by suitable exercises, and by your atten- tion to the study of the game. Practice catching, and see how near the ground you can take a ball be- fore it touches it, while running up to it. Caffyn’s fielding, to those who witnessed it in the Internation- al contests, was an example in this respect not easily forgotten. Practice throwing with the first whirl of the arm. Let some one bat or throw the vali to you,
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22 BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKNT. / and try how much ground you can cover to the right or left. To start suddenly, command yourself at full speed, and stop in good form, are all requisites of good fielding, and require considerable practice to at- tain facility in their performance. The great secret of all fine fielding is, to keep your eyes on the ball, fol- lowing, it from the bowler’s hand to the bat, and thence in its progress to the field, Always play your hardest, and very best, and should you miss a ball, do not stand still regretting the misshap, but run after the ball, and by your promptitude in recovering it atone for your previous errors, As the ball ap- proaches you, draw yourself up, heels together, and picking up the ball as neatly as possible, throw it to the wicket-keeper, as if it were red-hot. A quick re- turn saves many a run, and also preserves an appear- ance of activity that leads the batsman to pause be- fore he attempts to run, Watch well the striker, and be in motion in time to act at once should the ball come within your reach. Half a spring in anticipa- tion places you already under weigh, and frequently gains you yards in the ground you cover. As cricket is learned greatly by the eye, observe the movements of cricketers who are capital fielders. Long stopping is excellent. practice for fielding. . Fielding is excel- lent practice for batting also, as the training of the hand and eye to act together, and a keen perception of pace and distance are essential in both, and are the same in both. The fieldsmen should be on the alert to observe the signals of the wicket-keepers, and should always return the ball to him unless the bowler calls specially for it. To be observant of the play, fearless in meeting the ball, prompt and steady in returning it, and accurate in your aim in 80 doing, are essential requisites in every fieldsman who would
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BEADLE'S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. 23 excel in the art; and remember that to prevent your opponents making runs. is the next merit to making runs yourself. On Bowling, As we shall have to deal chiefly with those totally unacquainted with the game, we shall commence our remarks on Bowling, with very simple instructions, and close them by referring to the scientific rules that govern the art, and which lead to the game being so difficult a one to achieve perfection of play'in. When the Bowler takes a ball in hand, holding it by his fingers, not the palm of his hand, he should first fix upon some spot, within the lines that run from the outer stumps of each wicket, one to the other, near the popping crease, from which the ball will rise to the wicket in the most effectual manner; and on this spot, or what is termed the pitch of the ball, he should concentrate his aim, and not solely and di- rectly, at the wicket. The various distances from the wicket that the ball pitches, viz. touches the ground, are called “lengths,” and are good’ or bad length balls, according to the facility with which they are hit away, or requife a careful defence. The ex- cellence of length, also, varies according to the speed or pace of the bowling, a ball from a slow Bowler taking the bails from a pitch much nearer the wicket than the distance required to do the same from a fast Bowler. The greater the distance the ball touches the ground from the wicket, the shorter the pitch and length; the nearer the wicket it pitches, the fuller the length and pitch; a full-pitched ball being one that does not touch the ground at all between the wickets. Bewling consists of two parts, the mechanical and
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34 BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. intellectual ; you require the hand to bowl the ball where you please, and the head to know where to bowl according to the player. The first thing is to gain full command over the ball; therefore practice bowling within your strength, being content to bowl a slow ball; by beginning slowly, if you possess the power to bowl] swiftly, it will not be lost; but by commencing with fast bowling, you destroy the effi- cacy of both. Seek accurcy of aim, rather than speed, studying the former only, letting the latter come of itself. The next thing of importance is your delivery. The essence of good delivery is to send the ball turning on tts own aaws, Viz., giving it a twist. The more bias you can impart toa ball—the more spin or twist you can give it as it leaves your hand, the better, because the ball will then either rise quickly, or not at all—as in the case of a shooter—or diverge from the line of its progress, the moment it touches the ground, in either case being a difficult ball to play. This twist or bias is the result of a cer: tain mechanical action of the arm and wrist, requir- ing attentive practive to become proficient in. A Bowler should endeavor to acquire a certain uni- form action of the body in delivering the ball, and tu do this you should try experiments until you have decided on the distance you will run, the steps you will take, and your mode of delivery, and then prac- tice none other, Remember to keep your body up- right in delivering the ball. The fairer a delivery, the more twist a Bowler can impart to the ball. A high and unfair delivery is only difficult to play from the height of the rise. In practicing, do so a little at a time only, and often; bowling should become a matter of habit, and habits are the result of frequent repetition. Practice, also, the same action in delivery — <a
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BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. 25 for a different pace, so as not to betray the change Never practice carelessly, but always try your best, So much for the power of bowling; now for the method of applying that power. Pitch the ball as near the bat as you can, without its being hit away ; by so doing, you give the batsman the shortest possi- ble sight of the ball from its rise ; remember that he can only judge the ball correctly from its rise, and not from the hands of the Bowler. Short-pitched balls are not only easier to hit, but have more scope for missing the wicket, though pitched straight. Short-pitched leg balls, however, are not easy to hit, and frequently produce catches. The straighter the ball, the more puzzling it is to the eye of the batsman, and the more it will cramp his movements. If you find a batsman guards his wicket well with a straight bat, bowl him four or five balls to leg; by frequent at- tempts at leg-hitting he will be liable to get off his straight play, by the tendency to swing round that the former gives a player. A good dropping ball will frequently take a wicket or give a catch when others have failed ; it is produced thus: run fast to deliver the ball, and toss it six or seven feet in the air, and when it touches the ground, it will rise and come in faster than expected, from the impetus derived -from the run. One quality a Bowler should possess is good nature, which is especially requisite when the wicket-keeper deems a change of Bowlers necessary. A Bowler who grumbles and gets out of temper un- der such circumstances, is a nuisance on a cricket ground. We shall close our remarks on Bowling by giving the following: Hints on Slow Bowling. Almost every man who goes in to play against good slow bowling, appears to think that he is in TN pightnwemiganhdiinkil A Se at! "x r SERS: AR EE ee ne i
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26 BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICEDT. honor bound to hit every ball out of the field; and nearly every one who attempts it comes out, say- ing, “‘ What rubbish,” “ No play in it,” ete. the truth being that there is a great deal of play in it, for it re- quires a real knowledge of the game to successfully contend against it. Slow bowling has these adyan- tages: Its lengths are more accurate; the batsman has curved lines to deal with instead of straight ones; a slow ball can be pitched nearer the bat, thereby affording less space for the bat to cover, and making the ball more difficult to judge; the Bowler can vary his pace unobserved without varying his action or delivery ; more slow balls will hit the wicket; a slow ball must be played, it will not play itself; and, lastly, catches and chances of stumping more frequently re- sult from it. The diagram of the lines in, bowling will illustrate the preceding remarks, On Batting. On taking your position at the wicket, the first thing you have to do is to get your guard from the Umpire; that is, to ascertain the position in which your bat will most protect your wicket from the bowler. Middle-stump is the best guard or block to take. After receiving the block place your right foot on the ground parallel to, and a few inches behind, the pop- ping erease; ask the Umpire to tell ‘you if your toe encroaches on the line, from the leg-stump to the op- posite stump of the other wicket, and keep it from doing so. Then grasp the handle of the bat with the right hand, at a point within two or three inches of the blade of it, and then place the left loosely abore it, 80 that the handle may turn in the latter hand, but not the former. In striking the ball, both hands should grasp the bat firmly, but in. blocking a ball,
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BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. 27 and playing forward at it, the left hand holds the handle loosely, actin} more as a guide to it than otherwise. Learn first to defend your wicket; learn to block well, but at the same time avoid the habit of keeping your bat in the block-hole almost immov- able. Remember, that you have a wicket to defend, that is eight inches wide, by twenty-seven in height, and to do this, you have a bat whose blade is only four inches-and-a-quarter in width, by twenty-one. in height. In learning to bat, a professional batsman will teach you more, by meré example, in one hour than you can acquire by a day’s reading, therefore, in the preliminary steps avail yourself of the advice of an experienced cricketer, if you can obtain it. Stand ab the wicket in an easy position, keeping your inuscles relaxed and ready for action. Meet the ball with as full @ bat as the case admits, that is, let the bat strike the ball, not the ball the bat, and present as much of the face of the bat to the ball as possible. Never allow ‘the blade of your bat to be turned up- ward when hitting at a ball, but keep it in a slanting position, with the handle nearest to the opposite wicket, in order to keep the ball down, when played. Keep your bat in a position, as if it were a pendulum vibrating between the wicket and the approaching ball. Learn to use your wrists in batting, the effect of the wrist alone, slight as its power appears, is very material in hitting. Never think of making any par- ticular hit before the ball is bowled; watch well the bowler’s hand, and mark well the pitch of the ball. Keep the left elbow well up, by which means the left shoulder is brought over the bat, and thus the ball is kept down. Hit every ball on its own side, and block all balls that you can not reach, and play straight bat at straight balls Study the habit of
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28 BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET, steady batting, and eccastom yourself to play the same kind of ball in a particular manner, Treat all balls for the first few overs with respect, aiming at first at hitting the ball safe for one run. Don’t run beyond your strength, and also consider that of your partner. To be run out is invariably the result of bad judgment. The man who has to make the wicket should judge the run. Should the ball pass your bat, do not look behind you, bat watch your partner, and if he beckons you to run, go. To make close runs is the perfection of judgment, for the player who loses the single run allows his opponents to stand so far out in the field, that fewer runs are made by long hits, besides the chances thus given for a catch. In running act with decision, having fairly started, don’t go back; to save your wicket at your partner’s expense is contemptible play. Always run on the right side of your partner. Remember that the criterion of the best batting is, staying in the greatest length of time, making the most runs, and giving the fewest chances to the field. For the best instructions on the science of cricket, in batting and in bowling, we would recommend an attentive study of the Rev. J. Pyecroft’s admirable work, known as the “ Cricket Field.” Duties of Umpires, Umpires have a difficult and troublesome duty to perform, and to enable them to discharge. it properly, they require the possession of experience, and espe- cially impartiality. Many a game has been marred, and much ill-feeling introduced, by the decisions of partisan Umpires. Errors in judgment, and defects from inattention, all are alike liable to, but these are minor considerations, provided confidence be reposed ' } 4 LS oe TY eT CVO Oey emeen ao ‘ i. Se ee ee -"
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— BEADLE’# DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. b.*) in their integrity. In the discharge of his duties, the Umpire can never hope to give general satisfaction. Impartiality, attention, and a complete knowledge of the game will, however, lead to satisfactory results in the long run, and if he abide by the following rules in reference to the integrity of his decisions, he can not fail to please every reasonable man on the field, viz.: “Give out” no man from envy, hatred, or malice; neither give any man in through fear, favor, affection, gain, or reward, or the hope, or promise thereof; but give men “out” or “not out” according to the best of your skill and understanding. As this work is to teach beginners, as well as give hints to proficients, we shall first describe what the particular duties of the position are, and close with some brief comments on the most important points of the game on which decisions are generally required. When the Umpires assume their positions, their very first duty, after supervising the pitching of the wickets, is to see that a proper understanding exists between the contending parties, in reference to the time of beginning and closing the game, also, as to whether the match is to be played out, or decided by the re- sult of the first innings, and also, as to what circum- stances will occasion the game to be considered a drawn one. These facts should be ascertained by conference with the Captains of the two elevens, who alone have the power to appoint the time of pitching wickets and drawing stumps, &c., the Umpire’s duty being solely to see that the arrangements made are strictly adhered to. Each Umpire then takes his station—one at each wicket, their separate duties being as follows: The Umpire at the bowler’s end stands about six feet behind the wicket, but not so as to interfere with the movements of the bowler in de-
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80 BEADLE'S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. livering ,the ball. .After seeing that each man is tn his position on the field, and after giving the batsman his guard—which should be done from the side the bowler will deliver from, and all is in readiness to begin, he calls “play,” after which time, until the “over” is called, the ball shall be considered as in play—except in the cases alluded to in law 29. ..He then carefully, and almost simultaneously, watches, first, the arm of the bowler in delivery, in order that law 10 shall be abided by; and then his foot, that the 40th law may not be infringed. In reference to the former, an experienced writer says: “A throw may be made in two ways: one way with the arm. nearly straight from first to last; ‘Ads throw requiring , the hand to be raised as high as the head, and brought down in a whirl or circle, the contrary foot being used as a pivot on which the body moves in delivery. But the most common throw results from the hand being first bent on the fore-arm, the power of deliyery being gained by the sudden lash-out and straightening of the elbow.” The action termed “delivery,” fairly construed, means that jinal action of the arm, when the ball actually leaves the hand, so that in no part of said action may the hand be above the shoulder, and in case of doubt on this point, the Umpire is required ta decide against the bowler, In regard to the 40th law, if the toe is not over or on the crease, the Umpire need not trouble himself about its apparently being lifted off the ground, as it is impossible for a round- arm bowler to deliver a ball effectually unless his toe is actually on the ground; the reason being, that ie rests his body on the right foot in giving impetus to the ball. The next thing is, to watch the progress of the. ball from the bowler’s hand to the wicket, in doing which the Umpire should see that the ball
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BEADLE’s DIME BOOK OF CRICKEY®, 81 pitches tithin the lines that run from the outer stumps of each wicket, one to the other, in order to be pre- pared to give a correct decision on the question of leg-before-wicket ; for unless a ball does so pitch, the striker can not be given out leg-before-wicket, though the ball, that touches his legs, would have taken the wicket. In judging of the pitch of the ball, to see that it pitches straight, the Umpire should stand be- hind the middle-stump of the wicket. If, therefore, the ball pitches straight as above, and the striker in- terpose any part of his person—except hands—and thereby prevents the wicket being bowled—bearing in mind that many balls so stopped, would, if not im- peded, have gone oyer the wicket, or diverged from tt —the Umpire is bound to give the batsman out. He should also see that the ball is not out of the legitimate reach of the batsman; if so, or if it be bowled over his head, it is a wide ball. If the striker’s bat does not cover the line of the ball, when he reaches out to strike at it without leaving his position at the wicket, it must be considered a wide ball; but if he goes out of his ground to meet it, and hits it, no matter how far wide of the wicket it may be, 7¢ 73 not @ wide ball. The Umpire should pay attention, also, to the rise of the ball, and see whether it touches the hands, or gloves, or any portion of the bat, before it is caught by the wicket-keeper or fieldsman; and when the ball is struck by the end of the bat and near the ground, he should see that it does not touch the ground again before it is caught, in which case it will be what is termed “a bum ball.” After the “ over” is called, which is done when either the fourth or sixth ball, according to previous agreement, has been bowled, and is settled in the wicket-keeper’s or bowl- er’s hands, not defore, the Umpire then takes his sta-
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$2 BEADLE’S DIMER BOOK OF ORICKRET. tlon about twelve yards from the wicket, on a line parallel to that of the popping crease, and at a point at which he can readily observe that the foot of the batsman is kept within thé line of the popping crease, and that the wicket-keeper has no part of his person in front of the wicket until after the ball has passed him, or been struck into the field. Should the toe of the batsman be outside of or on the crease when the wicket is knocked down, or the bails knocked off by the wick- et-keeper, with the ball \ the hand that takes the wick- et, then the striker is out, for it is requisite his foot be dehind the crease. The Umpire should also watch the progress of the ball, so as to be ready to decide on the question of a catch on an appeal from the other Umpire, but not unless so appealed to. Watch that the wicket-keeper's foot does not touch the stumps, and also that he does not lift the bails with his fin- gers on taking a ball that rises a little above the bails. The Umpires should not converse with either of the contesting parties in reference to any part of the play, And both should remember that they are placed there solely to sce fair play between the contestants, and not as legal advocates of the interests of the par- ties they represent; were the latter to be the case, an impartial referee would be required to see justice done both parties. It is not advisable, though not inconsistent with an impartial action on the part of an Umpire, that either of the Umpires should be members of the club they represent, as in such cases, adverse decisions will generally be attributed to a friendly bias. Call “ wides” and “no balls” distinct- Jy, and ascertain that the scorers have heard you. Hold up your hand when a bye is run, and touch your leg for a leg-bye; the scorers will then know that all other runs are hits. In counting the overs, use money or pebbles, dropping one for each ball de- \ é an ee
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4 ee a ee , READLE’S DIME BOOK OF GRICKET. 83 livered. Remember that the striker can not be out by hitting the ball through his partner’s wicket, nor the latter either, unless he is out of his ground, and the ball, in its progress from the bat, touches the per- son of a fielder, before it takes the wicket, in which case the latter is supposed to have fielded it. Fre- quent practice in strictly observing the preceding rules, must lead to the Umpires giving satisfaction to ‘all parties concerned. General Remarks. A few general hints on matters interesting and beneficial to all cricketers, and we bring toa close our treatise on the elements of the game. In no game are the amenities of social life so re- quisite to a full enjoyment of it as in cricket, The expressions so frequently used, such as, “ Ball, if you please, sir,” “Thank you, sir,” “ Well hit, sir,” “ Well caught indeed, sir,” etc., are almost part and parcel of the game. Particularly acceptable are such com- mendations to young players, and they are often strong incentives to exertion on their part, besides promoting kindly feelings on the field and during the game. We must enter our protest against the fault- finding, grumbling, and snarling disposition that con- tinually censures every failure to succeed, and barely tolerates any creditable effort that does not emanate from themselves. Such men are the nuisances of a cricket field, and destroy all the pleasure that would otherwise result from the game. Every man trys his best to sneceed for his own credit sake, and if he fails, cénsure ‘but adds to his chagrin without in the least advancing his progress; therefore, if you can not praise a man for what he has done, keep silent, unless you wish to gratify your malice and ill-temper at his expense.
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Ba BEADLE'’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. When the players have assembled in readiness for a match, let the captain accord each his place on the field, and let each man go direct to his station, and keep quiet, and refrain from that great tendency all have of giving advice one to the other. The captain is the man that is responsible for errors, and let him be the one to have the benefit of all direction of the field. Let each batsman be in readiness to go in, so as to prevent any unnecessary delay. A match at cricket frequently occupies days, when hours alone would have sufficed, merely from the de- lays that occur. Remember that a eveditable victory abides only with that party who, in winning the match, have marked their play as much by their courtesy of demeanor, liberality of action, and good nature they have displayed, as by their skill in either of the several departments of the game. <A match at Cricket, to be Cricket, should be as much a trial as to which excels in the moral attributes of the game, as it is one that decides the question of any physical superiority whether as displayed in bowling, batting, or fielding. THE LAWS OF ORICKET, MARY-LE-BONE CRICKET CLUB,, — ett +e wi te ee 1. The BALL must weigh not less than five ounces and # half, nor move than five ounces and three-quarters. It must measure not less than nine inches, nor niore than nine inches and one-quarter in circumference. At the 6, gs of each innings, either party may call for a new bail. ‘ Se ie
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tes BEADLE'’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET. bits} a 2. The BAT must not exceed four inches and one quar- fer in the widest part; it must not be more than thirty- _ tight inches in length. 8. The STUMPS must be three in number; twenty-seven inches out of the ground; the Bails cight inchesin length; the Stumps of equal, and of sufliciemt thickness to prevent the ball from passing through. 4. The BOWLING CREASE must be in a line with the Stumps; six feet eight inches inlength; the Stumps in the | center; with a return crease at each end towards the Bowler at right angles. 5. The POPPING CREASE must be four feet from the Wicket, and parallel to it; unlimited in length, but not shorter than the Bowling Crease. ° 6. The Wickets must be pitched opposite to each other by the Umpires at the distance of twenty-two yards. 7. It shalt not be lawful for either party during a match, without the consent of the other, to alter the ground by rolling, watering, covering, mowing, or beating, except at the commencement of each innings, when the ground may be swept and rolled at the request of either party; such request to be made to one of the Wmpires within one | minute after the conclusion of the former innings. This tule is not meant to prevent the striker from beating the fround with his bat near to the spot where he stands during the innings, nor to prevent the bowler from filling up holes with saw-dust, etc., when the ground is wet. 8. After rain the wickets may be changed with the ¢on- sent of both parties. 9. The BOWLER shall deliver the ball with one foot on the ground behind the bowling crease and within the re- turn crease; and shall bowl four balls before he chan Wickets, which he shall be permitted to do only once ip ; 1 same innings. 0. The Ball must be bowled; if thrown or jerked, the seers shall call ** No Ball.” {Tbis law was changed by the Mary-le-Bone Club, Lon. “ don, in 1862. Considerable difficulty exists iv relation to the proper definition of a throw. throw may be made L two ways: one way, with the arm nearly straight from Grat to last in delivery, this throw requiring the hand to be
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86 BEADLE’S DIME Book Oo: ORICKET, raised as high as the head, and brougit down im a whirl or circle ; and ‘the other, and most common throw, being the vesult’ of the hand being first bent on the forearm, the power of delivery being gained by the sudden lash out and atraightening of the elbow.] 11. He may require the striker at the wicket from which he is bowling to stand on that side of it which he may direct. 12. If the Bowler shall toss the ball over the Striker’s head, or bowl it so wide that in the opinion of the Umpire it shall not be fairly within the reach of the batsman, he shall adjudge one run to the party receiving the innings, either with or without an appeal, which shall be put down to the score of Wide Balls; such ball shall not. be reckoned as one of the four balls; but if the batsman shall by any means bring himself within the reach of the ball, the rup shall not be adjudged. [The 12th law expressly states that if the ball is tossed over the striker's head it is a wide ball.) 13. If the Bowler deliver a “No Ball,” or a “ Wide Ball,” the Striker shall be allowed as many runs as he can get, and he shall not be put out except by running out. In the event of no run being obtained by any other means, then one run shall be added to the score of ‘* No Balls,” or “Wide Balls,” as the case may be. All runs obtained for “ Wide Balls,” to be scored to “* Wide Balls.” The names of the Bowlers who bowl ‘‘ Wide Balls” or “No Balls” in future to be placed on the score, to show the parties by whom either score istande. 1f the ball shall first touch any part of the Striker’s dress or person (except his hands), the Umpire shall call “ Leg Bye.” [Tt will be seen by the wording of law 15 that should a batsman hit a ‘‘No Bull,” the runs thus obtained are to be scored to his credit, and not charged to the bowler. ] 14. At the beginning of each innings the Umpire shalt call ‘‘ Play;” from that time to the end of each innings, no trial ball shall be allowed to any Bowler. _ 15. The STRIKER IS OUT if cither of the bails be “bowled off, or if a stump be bowled out of the ground; 16, Or, if the ball, from the stroke of the bat, or hand, but not the wrist, be held before it touch the ground, although it be hugged to the body of the catcher;
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BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF €RICKNT. 87 17. Or, if in striking, or at any other time while the ball shall be in play, bo:h his feet shall be over the popping crease, and his wicket put down, except his bat be ground- ed within it; 18. Or, if in stviking at the ball he hit down his wicket; 19. Or, if under pretence of running, or otherwise, either of the Strikers prevent a ball from being caught, the Striker of the ball is out; 20. Or, if the ball be struck, and he willfully strike it again; [This does not prevent the batsman from hitting the ball a second time if it be running on to his wicket, in which case he can prevent its doing so, either with his bat or feet, but not his hands. | 21. Or, if in running the wicket be struck down bya throw, or by the hand or arm (with the ball in hand), be- fore his bat (in hand) or some part of his person be ground- ed over the popping crease. But if both bails be off, a stump must be struck out of the ground; 22. Or, if any part of the Striker’s dress knock down the wicket; 28. Or, if the Striker touch or take up the ball while in play, unless at the request of the opposite party ; 24. Or, if with any part of his person he stop the ball which, in the opinion of the Umpire at the Bowler’s wicket, shall have been pitched ina straight liue from it to the Striker’s wicket, and would have hit it. [Unless the ball 1s pitched in a straight line from wieket to wicket a batsman can not be given out leg-before-wicket. The meaning of it is simply, that the ball, when it pitches —viz., touches the ground—must be within the lines that 3 | the outer stumps of one wicket, to those of the other. 25. If the players have crossed each other, he that runs for the wicket which is put down is out. 26 A ball being caught, no run shall be reckoned. 27. A Striker being run out, that run which he and his partner were attempting chall not be reckoned. 28. If a lost ball be called, the Striker shall be allowed six runs; but if more than six shall have been run before - lost ball shall have been called, then the Striker shall have , all which have been run. ~
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88 BEADLE'’S DIME BoOX OF CRICKET. [This refors literally to a lost ball, and not to one that merely is sent out of the sight of a majority of the fielders. ] 29, After the ball shall have been finally settled in the Wicket Keeper’s or Bowler’s hand, it shall be considered dead; but when the Bowler is about to deliver a ball, if the Striker at his wicket go outside the powping crease be- fore such ectual delivery, the said Bowler may put him out unless (with reference to the 21st law) his bat in hand, or some part of his person, be within the popping crease. 80. The Striker shall not retire from his wicket and_re- turn to it to complete his innings, after another has been in, without the consent of the opposite party. $1. No substitute shall in any case be allowed to stand out or run between wickets for another person without the consent of tle opposite party; and in case any person shall be allowed to run for another, the Striker shall be out if either he or his substitute be off the ground in manner mentioned in Laws 17 and 21, while the ball is in play. $2. In all cases where a substitute shall be allowed, the_ consent of the opposite party shall also be obtained as to the person to act as substitute, and the place in the field which he shall take. 83. If any Fie!dsman stop the ball with his hat, the ball - shall be considered dead, and the opposite party shall add shi runs to their score; W any be run they shall have five n all. 84. The ball having been hit, the Striker may guard his wicket, with his bat or any part of his body except hia hands; that the 23d law may not be disobeyed. 85. The Wicket Keeper shall not take the ball for the purpose of stumping, until it have passed the wicket; he shall not by any noise incommode the Striker; and if any part of his person be over or before the wicket, although the ball hit it, the Striker shall not be put out: 86. The Umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfaic play, aad all disputes shall be determined by them, each at his own wicket; but in case of a catch, which the Umpire at the wicket bowled from can not see sufficiently to decide tpon, he may apply to the other Umpire, whose opinion shall be conclusive. 87. The Umpires in all matches shall pitch fair wiokets, and the parties shall toss up for choice of innings. Tho Umpires shall change wickets, after each party has had one \onings. ’ a
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BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET 30 $8. They shall allow two minutes for each Striker to come in, and ten minutes between each innings. When the Umpire shall call “ Play,” the parties refusing to play shall lose the match. 4 . [This law ought to be more strictly enforced than it is§ ag then much unnecessary delay would be avoided: The , captains of the eleveus should have their men in readiness to go in the moment a batsman 1s out.] 39. They are not to order a Striker out, unless appealed to by the adversaries. 40. If one of the Bowler’s feet be not on the ground be« hind the bowling crease and within the return crease when he shall deliver the ball, the Umpire at his wicket, unasked, must call ** No Ball.” : 41. If either of the Strikers run a short run, the Umpire must call ‘‘ One Short.” 42. No Umpire shall be allowed to bet. 43. No Umpire is to be changed during a match, unlesa with the consent of both parties, except in violation of 42d law; then either party may dismiss the transgressor. \ : ” 44. After the delivery of four balls, the Umpire must 4 | eall “Over,” but not until the ball shall be finally settled in ; the Wicket Keeper’s or Bowler’s hands—the ball shall then be considered dead; nevertheless, if an idea be enter- tamed that either of the Strikers is out, a question may be put previously to, but not after the delivery of the next f ball. 45. The Umpire must take especial care to call “No Ball” instantly upon delivery: ‘* Wide Ball” as soon as it shall pass the Striker. 46. The players who go in second shall follow their in | nings, if they have obtained 80 runs less than their antago- nists, except to matches limited to one day’s play, when the number shall be 60 instead of 80. 47. When one of the Strikers shall have been put out, => the use of the bat shall.not be allowed to any person unti} the next Striker shall come in. + 0 \ “THE LAWS OF SINGLE WICKET, “4, When there siiall be less than five players on a side, Bounds shall be pliced tweity-two yards each in a late from the off and ley stuinp.
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ao BEADLE’S DIME BOOK OF CRICKET 2. The ball must be hit before the bounds to entitle the Striker to a run, which run can not be obtained unless he touch the bowling stump or crease in a ine with his Lat, or some part of his person, or go beyond them, returning to the hopping crease ag at double wicket, according to tha ist law. 8. When the Striker shall hit the ball, one of his feet must be on the ground, and behind the popping crease, otherwise the Umpire shall call ‘* No Bit.” 4. When there shall be less than five players on a side, neither Byes nor overthrows shall be allowed, nor shall tho triker be caught out behind the wicket, nor stumped ont. 5. The Fieldsman must return the ball so that it shall cross the play between the wicket and bowling stump, or between the bowling stump and the bounds; the Striker may run until the ball be so returned. 6. After the Striker shall have made one run, if he start again, he must touch the bowling stump, and turn before the ball cross the play to entitle him to another. 7. The Striker shall be entitked to three runs for lost ball, and the same number for ball stopped with hat, with refer. ence to 28th and 88d law of Double Wicket. 8. When there shall be more than four players on a side, there shall be no bounds, All Hits, Byes, and Overthrows, shall be allowed. ‘ 9. The Bowler is subject to the same laws as at Double Wicket. 10. Not more than one minute shall be allowed between each ball. —————+ 0. ry BETS. 1. No bet upon any match is payable unless it be played out or given up. 2. If the runs of one player be betted against those of another, the bet depends upon the first innings, unless otherwise specified. 8. If the bet be made on both innings, and one party beat the other in one innings, the runs of the first innings shall determine it. 4. If the other party go in a second time, than the bes must be determined by the numbers on tho score,
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ae ha} FOOTBALL. ‘Bnrrtr stated, Football is a game in which a naw ber of players, divided into sides, or parties, endeavor to kick a large ball from one part of a ficld to anoth- er, the side which succeeds in kicking it beyond a certain boundary, at either end of the field, winning the match. Let us endeavor to describe football in such a way as to enable lads on cricket-fields and vil- lage greens to play with pleasure and healthful profit, First, as to the ground. Any meadow or open space will do to play the game in. Nothing is so well adapted, indeed, as a cricket-field when there is no match going forward. In this field the players meet and divide themselves into two parties, each one choos- ing a captain or leader, whose business it is to direct the sport. 6 @ Touch. 4. Touch. a d —— "TeOH ¢ b Touch &, De Touch, b a The next thing is to set up two goals, about eighty: ora hundred yards apart. The goals may be made
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48 FOOTBALL. with sticks or posts; and through one of these goals the ball must be fairly kicked in order to win the game. A diagram, (see page 41) will assist the read er to understand the form of the ground laid out for football. The lines, a, }, are the goal lines, and those on each side, ¢, d, at right angles with them, are the touch lines; while the centre dotted line is marked on either side (s. p.) by side-pusts. A flag, or other distinguish- ing mark, is placed at each corner, and when the ball is kicked behind the outer lines it is said to be in touch, and a player is permitted to bring it back into the ground with his hands, In order to understand what follows, it will be well that the reader should acquaint himself with the following ‘Technical Terms used in F'ootball. Free kick.—The privilege of kicking the ball in such a manner as the kicker may think fit. Place kick.—A kick at the ball while it is on the ground, in any position in which the kicker may choose to place it, Fair catch is when the ball is caught after it has touched the person of an adversary, or has been kick- ed, knocked in, or thrown by an adversary, and be- fore it has touched the ground or one of the side catch- ing it; but if the ball be kicked from out of touch, or from behind goal-line, a fair catch can not be made. Hacking is kicking an adversary on the front of th¢ leg, below the knee. Tripping is throwing an adversary by the use of the legs, and without hacking or charging. Charging is attacking an adversary with the shout- ders, chest or body, without employing the hands or legs. j . i
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— SS — FOOTBALL. 48 Knocking-in is wher. a piayer strikes or propels the ball with his hands, arms or body without kicking or throwing it. Holding includes the obstruction of a player by the hands arms, or body, without kicking or throw- ing. Touch is that part of the field, on either side of the ground, which is beyond the marking flags or bound- aries. Drop-kick is « ball dropped to the ground and kick» ed at the rise. The game is commenced by one of the players bringing the ball to the middle of the ground; he drops it to the ground and immediately kicks it away toward the enemy’s bounds. He and all the players on his side follow it, while those on the other side en- deavor by every fuir means to kick it back again. There should always be a safe player stationed just inside the goal, to kick back the ball when it comes near him, while the inferior players remain near the touch lines, to return the ball into play whenever it leaves the ground. A player should al: so stand at each side-post for the same purpose, Sometimes the players advance in a compact body, shoulder te shoulder, so that it is nearly impossible for the ball to pass beyond them; or occasionally both sides form into a ring and tussel and scramble for the ball till one contrives to kick it away to a dis tance , and so hotly is the contest pursued, that often a. goal is not won during two hours’ play. But as soon as a goal és won, the players change sides, and the game recommences as before. AS now played, charging is allowed, byt tripping and hatk. ing are forbidden. The following are the /
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44 FOOTBALL. Laws ofthe Game, 1. The maximum length of the ground shall be two hundred yards, the maximum breadth one hundred yards; the length and the breadth to be marked off with flags. 2. The goals are to be defined by two posts, eight yards apart, without any tape or bar across them. 8. The winner of the toss shall have the ohoice of oals, when the game shall be commenced by a place sick, from the center of the ground, by the side losing the toss: the other side not to approach within ten yards of the ball until it is kicked off. 4, After a goal is won, the goals shall be changed, and the loser of the previous goal shall kick off, 5. A goal is won when the bali passes between the goal-posts or over the space between the goal-posts (at whatever hight), the ball not to be thrown, knocked in, or carried. 6. When the ball is én touch, the first player who touches it shall throw it from the point on the bound- ary-line where it left the ground, in a direction at right angl@ with the boundary line; and it shall not be in play until it has touched the ground. 7. When a player has kicked the ball, any other player, on the same side, who is nearer to the oppo- nent’s goal-line, is out of play, and may not touch thie ball, nor in any way prevent any other player from do- ing so, until the ball has been played by one of the other side ; but no player is out of play when the ball is kicked off from behind the goal-line. §. in case the ball goes behind the goal-line, if a play- er on the side to which the goal belongs just touches the ball, one of his side shall be entitled to a free kick from the goal-line at the point opposite the place where the ball shall be touched. Ifa player of the opposite side just touch the ball, one of his side shall be entitled to.a free kick, at the goal only, from a point fifieea yards from the goal-line opposite the place where the wll is touched, the opposing side to stand behind the goal line until he kas had his kick. 9. Ifa player make a fidr eateh, he shall be entitled to a free kick, provided he claim it by making a mark ~~ ——
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FOOTBALL. a3 with his heel: and in order to take such a kick, he may go as far back as he pleases, and no player on the opposite side shall advance behind his mark until he has kicked. 10. No player shall carry the ball. 11. Neither tripping nor hacking is allowed, and no player may use bis hands to hold or push his adversary, 18, No player shall throw the ball, or pass it to an- other with his hands, or otherwise than by a kick, 13. No player shall take the’ ball from the ground with bis hands, while it is in play, under any pretense whatever. 14. No player is to wear projecting nails, iron plates, or gutta-percha soles or heels, to his boots or shoes. With regard to the ball, opinions are divided be- tween the claims of the bladder confined in a leath- ern bag, and the strong india-rubber sphere sold in the shops: we incline to the latter. The ball should not. be too large nor too light; as in windy weather too large a ball is a nuisance, and the kick can not be fairly and effectually made. Written instructions can do no more than give read- ets general information as toa game like football. More will be learned in an hour’s play than can be acquired from a week’s teaching on paper, There- fore we hope that our friends—whom we number by tens of thousands among all the boys of America— will profit by our advice and the hints here thrown out, and speedily organize football matches in the fields about the neighborhood of their homes for the game is a thoroughly good and health-giving one, played anywhere. The Rugby Game, The system in use at Rugby has been adepted by Marlborough, Cheltenham, and other schools and English colleges. Matches at Rugby are played
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48 FOOTBALL. at that part of the close known as the Old Digside, where seventy or ¢ighty of the students will engage ~ in a game for the regulation of which there are forty rules. The ground, which is marked out by the re- moval of a narrow strip of turf on all four sides, is about a hundred and thirty yards long by seventy yards broad, and at either end goal-posts eighteen feet high, fourteen feet apart, and with a cross-bar at about ten feet from the ground, are erected, The ob- ject of the game is to kick the ball over the bar between the posts. The use of this cross-bar is one of the/ dis- tinctive features of the Rugby game, and goals are proverbially difficult to obtain there. One of their rules is framed to meet this, by declaring a match which lasts thrée days without a goal being kicked by either side, to be “drawn.” The players on each side in a match wear different-colored jerseys, so that it can readily be seen when a player is off his side, The rules relating to off-side are the most difficult of all. Each school has its one peculiar rule, the object being to prevent a player loitering in his opponent's goal until the ball is kicked up to him by one of his side, or, if he is by the chances of the game placed nearer to the goal of the opponent than the ball, te disqualify him till he has been behind it. : The course of a match at Rugby is this: the two captains toss for choice of goals, the winner of course choosing the one which will give him the favor of the wind. As a compensation for this, the other side has the kick off from the center of the ground. Oap- tains have different methods of disposing their forces in the field, but the custom is, to place three or four fast rummers some thirty yards in the rear, ready to 4
Page 47
~ FOOTBALL. 47 take up the ball when it breaks through the rows of forwards, and is not stopped by the half-backs. The halfbacks play just beyond the mass skirting the scrummages, ready to take up the ball when it gets free. The ball having been kicked off, the opposite clayers are allowed to catch or take it up from a re- sound. This feature is not allowed by any school but Rugby. Having caught up the ball, the object is to run with it beyond the line of the opponent's goal, and there touch it down. This is, however, a very difficult feat, and on its being attempted, the player may be hacked, that is, kicked on the legs, mauled, or pulled over, until he cries; “ Haveii down /” and lets * ball fall. rhis cry of “ have it down” is made with reluc- tance, and players will struggle hard to get free and keep the ball. It is, however, well-nigh impossible to do so, as, upon his first attempt to run with it, the opposing players rush upon him, and if one succeeds in holding him, the others come up, and a scrummage ensues, in which all but the back-players take part— he who holds the ball being in the center, and the other players, frequently to the number of sixty, wedged around in a compact mass. Rugby players, who alone recognize hacking as a legitimate feature in the game, justify it by saying that it is necessary, and that without hard, vigorous kicks, the ball would never emerge from the middle of some seventy pair of legs wedged together in a Rugby scrummage. Players are said by a present Rugbian “ soon to learn to give and bear the kicks they get.” The ball is seldom on the ground for any length of time at Rugby; one side or the other having it generally in their arms and struggling for its posses *>
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4s FOOTBALL. sion. When it is kicked out at the side-lines, the player who first touches it has to bring it to the edge, where the two sides spread out, facing each other t3 catch it, and as soon as caught, there is another scrummage. Play seems to be directed too little to the goals. When the ball is driven near to one, the de- fenders’ rear-men take it up and kick it out at the side-bounds into touch (the ground without the bound- ary-lines); then it is brought to the edge, thrown in again, and attempted to berun with. These features of the game are of constant recurrence, till at last the ball gets kicked over the cross-bar—an undisputed goal, or driven beyond the lines and touched down, when one of the players is commissioned to bring it into the ground for a try at goal. The course of proceeding, after the ball has been touched down beyond the goal-line is very amusing and ingenious. It is carried up to the line, and the player who brings it, kicks it gently up for one of his own side to catch. The instant he has caught it, the other side may set upon him and wrest it from him if they can before he makes his mark—that is, kick a hole in the ground with his heel. If he succeeds in doing this while still holding the ball, all his adversa- ries must go beyond the mark and stay there until the ball has been placed on the ground again. If the ball is taken from him before his mark is made, the try at goal is lost. In the former case, however, a player is ordered to carry it to « cenvenient distance from the goal for a kick. The best place-kicker is appointed by the captain to make the try. The adversaries are watched care- fully to prevent their advancing beyond the mark. The player who is to take the kick, makes a little
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FOOTBALL. 49 hole with his heel, into which the other isglo place the ball. It is held by the leather lace. It must not be touched by two hands, and if any but the one player ordered to take it out touch it, the other side may immediately maul and charge. The moment the ball touches the ground, it is kicked, and the other players rush forward. If it goes over the bar (it must not be over either of the posts, and it will not count if it is touched by any player), the game is won, and — the two sides change gouls, and begin again. A game is decided by the best of three games, and the time of play is usually something over an hour. It will be readily conceived this game is one re- quiring great agility, skill, and courage. The Eton Gume. Eton football is very different from that of Rugby They do not allow the ball to be caught or carried, nor one player to be held, struck, or pushed by an- other. They have no cross-bar, and in their matches only eleven players are allowed on each side. Their game is at the head of what is called the close sys- tem. They commence a game with a dully in the middle of the field. One player on each side, chosen for his skill and speed in running, is placed at the goals to guard them. Two others act as cornerers, to keep the ball in the dullies. The other eight form them- eclyes into a compact wall, two deep, standing shoul- der to shoulder, with heads bent down and hands on knees, each side facing the opponent’s goal. The ball is placed between these two lines at their toes by one of the cornerers. Then they push and struggle, each side trying to bear the other down, and drive the ball through the ranks. With sides of equal strength,
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w : FOOTBALL. these struggles are often protracted. When the buly is broken up, all is fair kicking at the ball, but every player must keep on his right side, and must avoid sneaking—that is, kicking the ball along with less than three of his opponents before him. A goal s0_ sneaked does not count. A goal is counted where the ball passes between two poles eleven feet wide, Whenever a ball is kicked out at the side-lines, it is brought straight in, and a bully is formed on the spot. When it passes the goal line, there is a race to touch it, If one of the side to whom the goal belongs first touches it, it is carried to the edge and kicked off into the middle of the ground again; bw if an op- ponent touches it first, the grand feature of the Eton game ensues; the ball is placed one yard in front of the center of the place marked out by the goal-sticks of the side where the ball was touched. The play- ers close up, each side forming a semicircle, with their strongest men in front. They meet each other, the ball being in the center of these, and then push, kick, and struggle, till the weaker side gives way and goes down, the other side falling on the top of them, and the ball being some where beneath. In this position they carry on the battle, and continue to writhe and struggle, trying on the one side to creep through the goal and drag the ball with them, on the other to drive itaway. These struggles sometimes continue for ten minutes. Players get exhausted, and creep out; wipe the beads of perspiration from their faces; and plunge down again with renewed vigor, till at last the ball is dragged through the goal or got away, when every body gets up and declares it very jolly.
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22S eS — x: /
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